Ending extreme inequality : an Economic Bill of Rights to Eliminate Poverty / Scott J. Myers-Lipton.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Myers-Lipton, Scott J., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Poverty--United States--History.

Poverty.

Social justice--United States--History.

Social justice.

Manpower policy--United States--History.

Manpower policy.

Equality.

History.

Social policy.

United States--Social policy--21st century.

United States.

Equality--United States--History--21st century.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

xvii, 180 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Boulder, CO : Paradigm Publishers, [2015]

Summary:

Poverty and inequality are at record levels. Today, forty-seven million Americans live in poverty, while the median is in decline. The top 20 percent now controls 89 percent of all wealth. These conditions have renewed demands for a new economic Bill of Rights, an American idea proposed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and Martin Luther King Jr. Today's Economic Bill of Rights has a coherent plan and proclaims that all Americans have the right to a job, a living wage, a decent home, adequate medical care, a good education, and adequate protection from economic fears of unemployment, sickness, and old age. Integrating the latest economic and social data, this new book explores these rights. Each chapter includes an analysis of the social problems surrounding each right, a historical overview of the attempts to implement these rights, and assessments of current solutions offered by citizens, individuals, civic organizations, and politicians. These contemporary, real-life solutions to inequality can inspire students and citizens to become involved and open pathways toward a more just society. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 The Right to a Job: The First Amendment 1

Problem 1

Solution 3

The History of the Right to a Job through Public Works Projects 3

The History of the Right to a Job through cooperatives 8

The Right to a Job: Current Approaches 11

Summary 21

2 The Right to a Living Wage: The Second Amendement 23

Problem 23

Solution 25

The History of the Right to a Living Wage 25

The Right to a Living Wage: Current Approaches 32

Summary 41

3 The Right to a Decent Home: The Third Amendment 43

Problem 43

Solution 45

The History of the Right to a Decent Home 46

The Right to a Decent Home: Current Approaches 55

Summary 64

4 The Right to a Good Education: The Fourth Amendment 65

Problem 65

Solution 72

The History of the Right to a Good Education 73

The Right to a Good Education: Current Approaches 83

Summary 93

5 The Right to Adequate Medical Care: The Fifth Amendent 95

Problem 95

Solution 98

The History of the Right to Adequate Medical Care 98

The Right to Adequate Medical Care: Current Approaches 109

Summary 119

6 The Right to Adequate Protection from Economic Fears of Old Age, Sickness, Accident, and Unemployment: The Sixth Amendment 121

Problem 121

Solution 123

The History of the Right to Adequate Protection from Economic Fears of Old Age, Sickness, Accident, and Unemployment 123

The Right to Adequate Protection from Economic Fears of Old Age and Unemployment: Current Approaches 133.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781612057262

1612057268

OCLC:

898227894